About Us
We specialize in handcrafting high-quality violins, violas, and cellos that inspire musicians and elevate their playing. Whether you’re an entry-level player seeking the best or an advanced musician looking for more from your instrument, our instruments will help you succeed.
With a deep understanding of the challenges musicians face in finding the right instrument, we offer a range of meticulously handcrafted instruments using the finest materials. Our instruments produce a rich, complex sound and offer a responsive, nuanced playing experience that empowers musicians to reach their full potential.
When you choose a Stefan Petrov instrument, you can explore the possibilities of your music-making, unleash your artistic vision, and enjoy a truly exceptional playing experience. From entry-level options to dream instruments for advanced players, our diverse range caters to musicians at every point of their musical journey.
Discover the possibilities.
About our Instruments
At Stefan Petrov, each of our instruments is meticulously handcrafted by a single maker. While many of the instruments we craft are exquisite replicas of those created by renowned Italian masters such as Amati, Guarneri, Stradivari, and Guadagnini, we also offer instruments with our unique interpretation. Additionally, we can fulfill special commission requests upon inquiry. Our skilled makers are dedicated to crafting each instrument with the utmost care, resulting in exceptional handwork, detailed tonal work, and a specially formulated, hand-applied antiqued varnish that will endure for generations.
Our instruments offer players a remarkable feel and sound reminiscent of fine antique instruments. They are constructed using superior-quality materials that surpass others within their respective price ranges. Furthermore, they undergo a meticulous professional-grade setup, incorporating the finest French bridge blank materials, professional-level strings, and meticulously installed fittings to ensure aesthetic beauty and optimal performance.
The Strengths of our Instruments:
- Powerful projection
- Well-balanced with vibrant and clear tones
- Carefully selected, well-aged materials with superior tonal qualities
We know that every detail in the crafting process and in the selection of exceptional, well-aged tonewoods, is crucial in creating instruments of world-class quality. For example, we utilize willow blocks to enhance tonal qualities and projection while ensuring a lighter weight. Critically important is our expertise in expert plate graduation and meticulous tuning of the tops to bottoms. This results in highly responsive, well-balanced, colorful, powerful instruments that project exceptionally well. Our many years of experience enable us to skillfully match each component of your Petrov instrument, providing an extraordinary playing experience.
Equally significant is our specially formulated varnish which has been refined over many years to bring out the instrument’s finest timbre while enhancing clarity and the beauty of its tonewoods. Meticulously hand-applied in thin layers, it preserves the instrument’s tonal response while providing protective qualities for generations to come.
We offer Five Models of Instruments:
Trista
Trista instruments are best suited for students and intermediate players looking for a good playing experience to help them advance quickly.
Workshop
Our Workshop model suits players looking for an even better playing experience. They are handcrafted by apprentices under the guidance of our master maker in a traditional violin-making workshop. These instruments are crafted using carefully selected, well-aged materials with exceptional tonal qualities and moderate figuring and are finished with our finest in-house oil varnish.
Standard
Our Standard instruments are for any level player that needs an instrument to help them advance to the next level of play. They are a collaborative effort between our skilled apprentices and the master maker. The apprentices handle the initial rough work, while the master maker takes over for the final finishing touches.
These instruments are crafted using carefully selected, well-aged materials with exceptional tonal qualities. They feature highly figured maple, fine quality straight grain spruce, and are finished with our highest quality in-house oil varnish.
Euro
Our Euro model instruments are also for any level player that needs an instrument to help them advance to the next level of play. They are a collaborative effort between our skilled apprentices and the master maker. The apprentices handle the initial rough work, while the master maker takes over for the final finishing touches.
All Euro model instruments are made of well-aged A-grade European spruce and maple selected by the master maker.
Superior
Our Superior model instruments are exclusively handcrafted by a master maker, ensuring exceptional craftsmanship. Each instrument is meticulously made using select well-aged materials renowned for their intrinsic tonal quality. Made from the highest grade European tonewood, typically Bosnian or Italian maple for the back and sides and Italian spruce for the top, these instruments are for those advancing players that want the best. Our Superior model instruments are finished with our finest house oil varnish to complete their exquisite appearance, adding a perfect touch of beauty and protection.
Patterns Available
Guarneri – typically strong and powerful with good depth and projection
Guadagnini – strong and powerful with a little more vibrancy in the G string, displays good warmth and projection
Stradivarius – more sweet and tender, yet lively and powerful
Amati – graceful shape and sweet tone
*Other patterns are available from time to time, dependent on the maker’s choice. You may also request a particular model be made for you.